Shapes of Clay

Posterity with all its eyes

Will come and view him where he lies.

Then, turning from the scene away

With a concerted shrug, will say:

"H'm, Scarabaeus Sisyphus—

What interest has that to us?

We can't admire at all, at all,

A tumble-bug without its ball."

And then a sage will rise and say:

"Good friends, you err—turn back, I pray:

This freak that you unwisely shun

Is bug and ball rolled into one."